To M. J. Berkeley   [26 November 1840]

is the Fagus oblique.— So that we have probably two species, & closely allied species of Fungus, growing on two species of Fagus, at the distance of 1000(?) miles.—1 The Fungus of Tierra del Fuego grow on the Fagus Antarcticus.—2 Bertero says the natives of Chile call the Fungus “dignénes”.— Bertero’s [paper] or rather posthumous list of plants is in Silliman’s N. Am. Journal Vol. 23 p. 78.— I should be much obliged if at some future time, you would have the kindness to return me the rough papers.—3

I have the pleasure of remaining | Your’s truly obliged | Charles Darwin

incomplete

Postmark: NO—26 1840

1
The letter refers to two species of fungus, one discovered in Tierra del Fuego by CD (Journal of researches, pp. 298–9) and the other in Chile by Carlo Bertero (Bertero 1831–3). Berkeley (1845) describes CD’s specimens of both species.
2
CD corrects this statement in his letter to M. J. Berkeley, [March 1841].
3
CD refers to the field notes he made during the voyage. Berkeley quoted extensively from them. On the cover of the letter, in Berkeley’s hand, is ‘984. Two large ones smooth half-grown | 821. Orifices burst | 529 little ones | 528. Possibly another species’. The note may refer to CD’s catalogue of plant specimens (see D. M. Porter 1981).

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.1 &] over ‘a’
1.4 Bertero’s] before del ‘Paper’
1.5 is] ‘s’ over ‘n’
point omitted after : 1.2 ‘1000(?)’; 1.7 ‘rough’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-583,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-583